Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 1 June 2018
Saving Sessions: Inside the GOP effort to protect the AG

By JONATHAN LEMIRE, ERIC
TUCKER and LISA MASCARO
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Days
after President Donald
Trump deemed Jeff Ses-
sions “beleaguered” and
threatened to fire him last
July, members of the presi-
dent’s inner circle made a
desperate case to save the
attorney general’s job.
The White House chief of
staff, Reince Priebus, and
the president’s chief strate-
gist, Steve Bannon, plead-
ed with Trump during a
heated Oval Office meet-
ing to keep Sessions, warn-
ing that his dismissal would
only pour gasoline on the
Russia investigation. And,
they said, it could alienate
those in Trump’s conserva-
tive base, supporters en-
amored with the attorney
general’s tough stances on
law enforcement and im-
migration. In this March 2, 2017, file photo, Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in
Priebus and Bannon both Washington, where he said he will recuse himself from a federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 White House
were out of their jobs with- election.
in the month. But Sessions Ass. Press
survived, his reprieve deliv- be in danger again. The case that Sessions’ sidered firing Sessions but Trump over the recusal de-
ered by John Kelly as one “There’s no doubt he’s protectors have outlined has wondered if he made cision last spring, Sessions
of his first acts as chief of complained about him, to Trump time and again the right decision in not do- offered his resignation, but
staff. there’s no doubt he has largely consists of three ing so previously. the overture was rejected.
Ten months later, the Re- some grievances. I don’t components: Firing Ses- “And when he asks, ‘Should He is widely viewed as de-
publican campaign to know they’ve aired them sions, a witness in Mueller’s I have done that?’ I say, termined to stay in the job
save Sessions has contin- out yet. He’s not going to investigation of obstruc- ‘No, the way it is now has because he believes in the
ued and — at least for fire him before this is over,” tion of justice, would add worked out,’” Giuliani said. president’s agenda, which
now — succeeded. In pri- Giuliani told reporters legal peril to his standing Influential conservatives largely mirrors his own in-
vate meetings, public ap- Wednesday. “Nor do I think in the Russia probe; doing have also heard Trump lash terests, and is reluctant to
pearances on television he should.” so would anger the presi- out about Sessions and, leave a job for which he
and late-night phone calls, The campaign to save dent’s political base, which though some have sympa- gave up a Senate seat.
Trump’s advisers and allies Sessions hasn’t tempered Trump cares deeply about, thy for the concerns, have Hours after the president’s
have done all they can to Trump’s anger at the attor- especially with midterm repeatedly talked him out attack on Wednesday,
persuade the president not ney general’s decision to election looming this fall; of doing anything drastic, Sessions visited the White
to fire a Cabinet official he recuse himself from the Rus- and a number of Republi- said one person in touch House for a routine litiga-
dismisses as disloyal. The ef- sia probe, an act the presi- can senators would rebel with both men who spoke tion issue, a Justice Depart-
fort is one of the few effec- dent believed birthed the against the treatment of a on condition of anonymity ment official said.
tive Republican attempts Mueller investigation, which longtime colleague who to discuss private conversa- Sen. Lindsey Graham of
to install guardrails around is imperiling his presidency. was following Justice De- tions. South Carolina, who in
a president who delights in In a Wednesday tweet, partment guidelines in his The person recalled a vent- March said firing Sessions
defying advice and break- Trump again declared he recusal. ing session after a meeting would “blow up” the Ju-
ing the rules. regretted appointing the Senate Judiciary Com- at the White House last fall, diciary Committee, struck
It’s an ongoing effort, former Alabama senator to mittee Chairman Chuck when the president aired a different tone Wednes-
though not everyone is the job in a familiar, but no Grassley, R-Iowa, has said his frustrations with the at- day, noting that Cabinet
convinced the relationship less stunning, public rebuke that he will not schedule torney general about his positions are “not lifetime
is sustainable for the long of a sitting Cabinet official. a confirmation hearing for recusal. The person ex- appointments.” Looking
term. Despite the withering com- another attorney general pressed sympathy, but ar- ahead to fall elections, he
As recently as this month, plaints, Trump appears to nominee if Sessions is fired. gued against firing Sessions. has reinforced to Trump
Trump lawyer Rudy Giu- comprehend the potential Giuliani told The Associated While the recusal remains that the best approach
liani said the president had consequences of firing Ses- Press on Wednesday that Sessions’ original sin in now “is to keep focused on
raised the issue again, won- sions and seems resigned Trump has asked him multi- Trump’s eyes, the president good governance in the
dering aloud if he’d made to the idea that he’s stuck ple times, before and after has also fumed that he sees midterms.”
a mistake in not firing Ses- with him for the time be- the former New York mayor Sessions as failing to get a At some point, Graham
sions. And both Giuliani ing, according to nearly a joined the president’s legal handle on immigration and said, Sessions will “have to
and influential Republican dozen people close to the team last month, about not placing enough em- make a decision” that if
lawmakers have hinted decision, who spoke on whether Sessions should phasis on combating trans- “you don’t have the con-
that, once special coun- condition of anonymity to have been fired. national criminal organiza- fidence” of the president,
sel Robert Mueller’s probe discuss private conversa- More recently, Giuliani said tions. “that will affect your ability
wraps up, Sessions could tions. Trump has not actively con- After being berated by to be effective.”q